Although the Decision on the Seasonal Ban on Construction Work in Tivat came into effect on June 1st, and the local administration unofficially "turned a blind eye" to construction workers and tolerated their disrespect until June 15th, construction in the smallest municipality on Boka Kotorska continues with almost unabated intensity.
In addition to investors and construction contractors, primarily in the construction of residential buildings for sale on the market, who are completely ignoring the ban that officially lasts until September 15, there are also those who have been approved by the state or local administration to continue with work, because these projects are allegedly of general interest, although in most such cases of exemption, the construction of public buildings or infrastructure is not involved, but rather projects for the sale of real estate on the market.
One of these is the construction of a condo hotel and residential complex on the site of the demolished old hotel “Tivat” in Seljanovo, whose investors are the companies ALK Montenegro and Sofir. As soon as the ban came into effect for their second large construction site of a residential and commercial building, which is within the scope of the state study of the Porto Montenegro location on the northwestern side of that complex, ALK construction workers moved to the hotel and apartment construction site in Seljanovo, which had been completely inactive for months, and there, to the horror of the neighbors, they continued with the work.
"Vijesti" had insight into the decision of the Mayor of the Municipality Željko Komnenović dated May 27, which granted ALK Montenegro and Sofir, at their request, an exemption from the seasonal ban on construction work on the facility. The decision states that “works within the framework of a project of interest to the Municipality of Tivat and the state of Montenegro may be exempted from the ban on the commencement and execution of construction work for the period from June 1 to September 15”, and that ALK and Sofir are given this opportunity for their large construction site in Seljanovo, because “the “Tivat” condo hotel facility has been included in the List of Priority Projects in the Field of Tourism by the Government of Montenegro”.
Neither the Government nor the Municipality, however, explain how these are projects for building apartments for sale on the market under the guise of condo hotels like this one, “projects of interest to the state” in order to receive such benefits in comparison to other projects implemented by other, usually smaller investors. In addition, the residents of Seljanovo are particularly angered by the fact that the construction site of the condo hotel “Tivat” is almost completely empty and inactive for most of the year, because ALK workers and operations are then engaged in another project in the neighborhood of Porto Montenegro. However, when a ban on construction work comes into force for that construction site so that they do not disturb the wealthy guests of Porto Montenegro with noise, ALK workers simply move to the previously completely inactive construction site in Seljanovo, for which ALK received an exemption.
A journalist from "Vijesti" was at the location yesterday and testified that construction workers working for ALK had already started working on the southern of the three towers of the complex before seven in the morning, creating unbearable noise. This led to complaints from the owners of surrounding houses, as well as from tourist apartments whose guests announced their departure due to the noise from the construction site.
"This is truly unacceptable. For most of the year, almost nothing is done on this construction site, and then when the ban comes into effect for other locations, they just move here and continue working because they received an exemption for this project due to the "national interest". This is extremely unfair, both on the part of the investor, the Municipality and the state, because they are putting someone in a privileged position compared to all other investors who are engaged in the construction of real estate for the market, and on the other hand, they are causing enormous damage to everyone who is engaged in tourism activities near such projects," one of the dissatisfied citizens told "Vijesti".
He announced that due to the damage he suffers because guests leave his apartments or give him poor ratings on online booking platforms due to noise from the construction site, he will sue both the investors, as well as the Municipality and the state, which grant them exemptions from the seasonal ban on construction work that applies to everyone else.
Several citizens sent photos and videos to "Vijesti" showing general disregard for the seasonal ban on construction work in Tivat, showing that heavy machinery, mixers and concrete pumps are being used at certain construction sites even in the dead of night, with streets and roads even being completely blocked to traffic without authorization.
According to the current municipal decision on the prohibition of construction work during the summer tourist season, "the commencement of construction work that includes the construction and reconstruction of facilities, as well as the excavation of public areas in the period from June 1 to September 15" is prohibited in Tivat.
The Municipality announced yesterday that officials from the Secretariat for Inspection and Communal Supervision responded to citizens' reports of construction at several locations in Tivat.
"The announcement of the residents of Donja Lastva that they will protest as a sign of dissatisfaction with the construction work on the facility on Obala Filip Miloševića has also been recorded. The Secretariat officials acted in accordance with their jurisdiction, so the construction work was ordered to be suspended this afternoon. It was ordered that the construction site be brought into a preserved state, that it be abandoned and that access and access be prohibited."
The Tivat Municipal Police point out that a misdemeanor warrant will be served on the construction company "Univerzum", which is the contractor at that location.
"The penalty will be imposed on the legal entity and the responsible person in the legal entity," the local administration announced.
They note that "this situation was preceded by a request to extend the execution of construction works due to the rehabilitation of a landslide towards a nearby stream leading to the sea."
"The local government has allowed work on the retaining wall with the aim of repairing it and preventing a possible landslide. The wall has been concreted and further work on the structure is not permitted," the municipality said.
They explained that, when it comes to the building under construction in Mrčevac, the local administration is aware that the Construction Inspection of the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property "has issued a decision to continue work on the building until the danger of potential collapse of surrounding plots along the local road is removed."
"The request for the extension of works is related to the rehabilitation of a local road. The Municipality of Tivat is obliged to verify these allegations and, based on the information obtained, to allow or prohibit further construction activities at this location," the Municipality stated.
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